Career Story: Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone

Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone: Insights from Jordan Sinclair

Jordan Sinclair is a Regional Operations Support Manager and a 12-year veteran of the Travis Perkins Group. He was part of the 2016 Management Development Programme (MDP) cohort and has continued his professional development since, recently completing his Level 5 Operations Manager apprenticeship.

Jordan shares how the programme challenged his thinking, the value of project work, and why face-to-face connection matters.

Shifting Mindsets Through Practical Projects

While Jordan found the programme's workshops highly valuable, the hands-on project work proved to be the most rewarding element of the course. It offered a rare opportunity to step back and look at the broader business objectively.

"The project work gave me an opportunity to think about the business as I see it and work on an improvement that I believed would add value. Seeing this through and proving your ideas could actually add value was a really rewarding experience."

"The saying ‘be comfortable with being uncomfortable’ really stuck with me. Within the business, there are plenty of areas that can feel alien at first, but unless you throw yourself into them, you will never know. It is something I have kept with me throughout my career here."

"Go for it! The programmes and apprenticeships through the business have really helped me reflect and continually develop myself. It has helped build a great network of people to support me in my current and previous roles. There is always more to learn and apply to your day-to-day position."